News

Meeting the coach! - Launch of the Generations@school Project in Greece

22/05/2012

Greece celebrated the launch of the Generations@school Project on May 17th by inviting the famous Kostas Politis, coach of the Greek National Basketball team, Champions of EuroBasket 1987, to speak with children from the Chrisostomos Smirnis School, in Athens.

During the event, the 5th and 6th grade students had the chance to discuss the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations with 70 year old Mr Politis and ask him questions about the project, as well as his own experiences.

The students had already researched the Greek National Team's victory in the FIBA EuroBasket 25 years earlier. Watching games and videos from the time had also helped them to understand the feeling and atmosphere of the 80s.

After the EY 2012 presentation and discussion, a basketball game took place at the school, coached by the famous and experienced coach himself! Kostas Politis then spoke to the students about the importance of cooperation and teamwork, not only between people of the same age, but between generations, and told them that whenever they wanted to achieve a goal, they should work hard, concentrate and enjoy each moment.

Excited about having met the famous coach, the children were eager to watch the last minutes of the 1987 EuroBasket final, to round off the generations@school event. High five!